October 23 Writer Birthdays

1844 – Robert Bridges, British Poet Laureate and physician whose daughter was the poet Elizabeth Daryush.

1897 – Marjorie Flack, American children’s author and illustrator, best known for her book The Story About Ping (some sources give her birthday as Oct. 22).

1904 – Harvey Penick, American golfer and author of a bestselling guide to golf, The Little Red Book.

1929 – Jere Hoar, American short-story writer, screenwriter, journalist, professor, and author of scholarly articles.

1942 – Michael Crichton, American author of bestselling science-fiction thrillers; also a television producer, scientist, and professor, he was best known as the author of Jurassic Park and the Emmy-winning creator of the television drama ER.

1950 – Bruce Brooks, American writer of young adult and children’s literature.

1952 – Antjie Krog, South African poet, academic, and writer.

1961 – Laurie Halse Anderson, bestselling American author of children’s and young-adult novels; two-time finalist for the National Book Award.

1962 – Matt Novak, American author and illustrator of children’s books; he has also worked as a Disney animator and a filmmaker.

1963 – Gordon Korman, Canadian author of children and young-adult fiction who sold his first book manuscript to Scholastic when he was a freshman in high school.

1965 – Augusten Burroughs (born Christopher Richter Robison) bestselling American writer of memoirs, essays, columns, and a novel.

1969 – Trudi Canavan, bestselling Australian fantasy author, graphic designer, and artist.

1973 – Matthew Quick, American teacher and author of bestselling young-adult novels; he is best known for his novel, The Silver Linings Playbook, which was made into an Oscar-winning film.

1974 – Aravind Adiga, Man Booker Prize-winning Indian author, essayist, and journalist.

1974 – Derek Landy, Irish fantasy author, children’s writer, and screenwriter.